NEW YORK: US President Joe Biden said Israel has agreed not to engage in military activities during Ramadan in Gaza, where it is at war with Hamas militants, and said the Jewish state risked losing support from the rest of the world as Palestinians die in high numbers.
Biden, who made his remarks during an appearance on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers, said Israel had committed to making it possible for Palestinians to evacuate from Rafah in Gaza's south before intensifying its campaign there to destroy Hamas.
Biden, whose remarks were recorded on Monday and broadcast on Tuesday (Feb 27), said there was an agreement in principle for a ceasefire between the two sides while hostages were released.
"Ramadan is coming up, and there’s been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan, as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out," he said.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Mar 10 and end on the evening of Apr 9.
CEASEFIRE SETS PATH TO TWO-STATE SOLUTION
Biden said a temporary ceasefire would ease relationships with Israel's neighbours and jumpstart a process for Palestinians to have their own state.
"That gives us time to begin to move in directions that a lot of Arab countries are prepared to move in. For example, Saudi Arabia is ready to recognize Israel. Jordan is. Egypt - there are six other states. I’ve been working with Qatar," Biden said.
"If we get ... that temporary ceasefire, we’re going to be able to move in a direction where we can change the dynamic and not have a two-state solution immediately but a process to get to a two-state solution, a process to guarantee Israel’s security and the independence of the Palestinians," he said.
Biden said on Monday he hoped to have a ceasefire in the conflict by the following Monday. However, there has been little indication of progress in line with that pace from Israel, Hamas or the countries mediating between them, Qatar and Egypt.
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2024-02-27 22:14:44Z
CBMibGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vd29ybGQvYmlkZW4taXNyYWVsLWFncmVlcy1oYWx0LW1pbGl0YXJ5LWFjdGl2aXR5LWdhemEtZHVyaW5nLXJhbWFkYW4tNDE1NDExMdIBAA
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